Mumbai, Aug 20: It may be rare today to catch a glimpse of a 'black beauty' chugging and puffing out of a railway station. But the art of making these machines is still alive. Meet 40-year-old Raju Ghadiyali, perhaps the only person in the country who makes live models of steam engines on a commercial basis and even exports them. Some have even found their way to Germany.
Raju, an antique watch repairer by profession, started it as a hobby and his name also figured in the 1995 edition of the Limca Book of Records.
His shop, perfect watch repairers, is located in the Kermani building at Fort in south Mumbai.
''All the components of a prototype engine are available in my models and their size range from one inch to 48,'' he told a news agency, pointing out that over the last two decades he has commercially developed around a dozen such engines.
''Even the Indian Railways does not make it today,'' he pointed out proudly. Raju, originally from Gujarat and now a resident of Nalasopara suburbs in thane district, has learnt the art of making live steam engines from his father Sanmukhbhai Ghadiyali (now 67), and sells these to antique collectors and hobbyists.
''One can even hear the chugging and see the puffing and the knocking noise of a steam engine when these models run,'' he says.
The models feature all the components of a steam engine – a whistle, reverse-forward gear, water level indicator, safety valve, gas-fire system, boiler and so on,'' he said.
It nearly takes over four months to develop a model and conduct trials, he explained.
''Extreme precision is needed for that,'' he said and informed that he has developed models like 'Flying Scotman', 'Nickname' and 'Mougal'. Though 'Nickname' is his favourite, he is ready to design and run a scaled model of 'Fairy Queen' - the oldest steam engine of the world and India has the pride of owning it.
''I do it commercially,'' he said.
Asked about the cost of such scaled chugging-puffing machines, he said, ''It may cost between Rs 65,000 to Rs one lakh, depending on the size and type of steam engine.''
A member of British Council Library, Raju, who is also an aero-modeller, reads extensively about scaled models and draws inspiration to give shape to his heritage models.
''In my childhood, I use to see my father make such machines and gradually got interested in it,'' he reminisces.
Raju, often assisted by his school going son and daughter, points out that in future steam engines will be limited only to books and cinemas, hence, it is essential to promote this hobby and preserve the heritage of black beauties.
''I will pass on the art to my children,'' he says. Bureau Report